Northfield Town 3 Moors Academy 3

Young Moors let three-goal lead slip - by Ronald Crane

The Young Moors returned to league action for this Bank Holiday fixture at Northfield. Right from the off, the Moors were on the attack, a bad Town back pass was pounced upon by Campbell whose shot was parried for a corner. We only had to wait another 15 minutes for the first goal. Shuja Mahmood, who was a thorn in the home defence all afternoon, latched on to a terrible defensive pass by Town. One on one with Walker in the Town goal, he made no mistake. It was a gift, one of many that would be offered in this match.

The goal energised the Moors and they went in search of a second gaol. Just before the half-hour Sephton produced a good cross from the left for Shuja to glace home. Four minutes later it was three. With the Moors camped in the home area, a shot was saved, but Kamol Campbell was on hand to hammer home the rebound.

Just as we all thought “that was it” the Moors self-destructed. Indecision in the visiting defence allowed Alexander to win the ball and score. It was a gift that gave Town hope where before, there was none. This goal, perhaps, was decisive, for if the teams had gone in at half-time 0-3, the second half would have been much different. But with a goal on the board, Town had hope.

It was hope that they would turn into a point. 15 minutes into the second half Moors lost the ball in their own backyard, for Baron Sananiye to take advantage. 3-0 had become 3-2. It was to get worse. Town were now in the ascendancy. They swarmed forward with energy and pace. Moors looked sluggish and ill at ease. There were scares in the visiting area, but when the clock ticked to 90 minutes, we wondered how much time referee Mr Sudbury would add. Not much was the answer, but enough for Moors to concede a throw in. It went long in to six yard area for Williams to bundle home.

With the scored level, Moros visibly wilted. It could have been much worse, seconds before the final whistle Town had a glorious chance to win all three points, but hit the bar from two yards out.

After the game, the consensus among neutrals seemed to be that it was money well spent. A good game that had it all.

Moors manager Sam Manoochehri said, “It was – as they say – a game of two halves. We were great in the first half, but not in the second.”